Shika

The gentle songs of the beautiful jeweled feather birds of the Palace’s grand and beautiful gardens flowed through the open window of room. Crystal jade eyes slowly peek out through dark burgundy lashes. Tired from lack of sleep, the prince sighed heavily and closed his eyes. A strong but slender hand reached up to curl slender fingers around the tiny piece of metal that hanged around his neck, under the glittery jewels, fine silk and fine metal.

Why can’t he remember beyond waking up in his bedroom all those years ago?

Another slender hand reached up to trace finger tips; harden from weapon training and sitar playing, over the faint but ugly scar that went from the right corner all the way to his ear.

Something like this is worth remembering but all he could see is a knife coming for him and he turned his head just as it hit skin. Only the knife was seen, never the hand that wield it or the face of the wielder.

His father and General Gora were lying to him about what happen to him about five winters ago. But Armand couldn’t call them on it without some proof. Besides, his father was so vain and proud that he could shame a peacock. He’ll never admit to lying.

With a long exhale through his nose, the crown prince finally moved out of bed, just in time to avoid having his stomach being hit by two pair of tiny little feet.

“Manny!” The little five year olds cried out as a large wave of golden and red pattern bed quiets and sheets came down on them with a playful roar from their elder brother.

He quickly set to work on tickling on little tummies and feet though the fine cloth.

The aging formal general smiled as he watched from the opened doorway as the crown prince that scared war-harden nobles and diplomats with the attitude of a blood-thirsty shark with his hard sharp glare and a voice that cuts you to the bone while sounding calm and indifferent, smiled and laughed like a child. The old man laughed as the young prince was being attack from the back and the front by the two little terrors and went down from a deadly tickle attack. If those same nobles and diplomats only could see this, they would have thought that they were being underhanded by a child in adult clothing.

Armand finally managed to slip from under his two attackers. Standing beside the large bed, the dark redhead grabbed around a little waist and pulled a screaming but laughing dark-haired princess and swinging her around the room while her twin heroically grabbed at her capturer’s ankle.

“That’s enough now. “ Gora hated to end the play between young and elder siblings but the crown prince does have a full day this day.

Both boys and girl awed and Little Skui was placed down onto the fine tig-lio fur rug. Both Skui and Taka hugged around their brother’s waist, burying their little round faces in his loose white cotton nightshirt.

“Don’t worry,” He smiled as he ran fingers in shimmering black-blue hair of both children. “I’ll come by your rooms tonight and read you both a story of your choice.” He then kneeled on one knee to kiss each twin’s cheek before pushing them on their way.

“They love you, just like the rest of the kingdom.” The general smiled but only received a depressed frown from the younger man.

Armand laid a hand on his face, covering his scar as he turned away. “The rest of the kingdom would think that I’m a freak if they saw these scars.” He slowly made his way to his private baths, the general following at a distance.

“The kingdom knows about them and still they see you as a great leader.” Gora kept his eyes on the back of the prince’s head as the servants removed the nightclothes from behind an ivory and golden silk screen.

Armand said nothing while his long and famous burgundy hair was pulled up and twisted and pinned back so it wouldn’t get too wet during the morning bath.

“Besides, a king isn’t suppose to be handsome. He has-“

“-to be wise and just. I know, I know.” He finished the sentence. “Do you mind, I’m not Taka. I don’t need to be supervised while I’m bathing.” He gave the old man a glare from over his shoulder.

“You do when you start panicking.” The white-haired general retorted. He knew he hit low in mentioning one of the prince’s great fears.

“General Gora, leave before I make you.” The prince, taking greatly after his father when it comes to silent rages, hissed through clutched teeth. Jade eyes darken to forest as they glared into aging brown eyes.

The old man, knowing when to quit, bowed his head before leaving the crown prince to his morning bath.

**********************

As the farmer talked about how the cow herders are taking over his land, the aging king looked over at his son and one of his personal advisors. It panged his heart that he has taken to wearing a cloth over the lower part of his face, wearing layers over layers of clothing, just to hide his numerous scars.

Hidden away from the world, he thought. He looked away when the kohl-lined eye lids opened and jade eyes look at him then at the farmer.

The people thought their prince was strange with this habit of hiding his face, torso and even fingers from sight. No doubt the gossip over the last five years had spread to wide portions. The latest one being the one about him becoming a leper.

“Sir, it seems to me that you have much fault in this as Mr. Azeral.” Armand spoke up before the arguing farmer and herder start throwing fists. “You didn’t mark you lands clear enough. A rock at each corner is not clear enough. Now if you need the resources and the labor to help you in making a strong fence. I would gladly come, along with some of the guards, to help you in collecting the wood and tools and making the fence.”
The old king smiled. No king or prince has offered to physical help the people act, preferring to send the help instead from the throne. Armand is showing that he was there for the people, to help them as well as to guide them.

“Oh…” Baffled, the farmer bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, sire.”

The prince nodded his head back then turned his focus onto the pig herder. “Now, I know you and your family had a clear migration path for your cattle but maybe it’s time to divert the path? To adapt it to the changing landscapes to avoid these kinds of problems.” The dark-skinned man nodded a bit in understanding. “Then once we are finished with Mr. Jerle’s new fence, we’ll get out the maps and plan a better route for your cattle.”

Wise in these types of matters but not battle savvy. He lacks confidence when it comes to idea of war and making season fighters listen to him, the king thought, disappointed.

“Father, at least try to be interested in these dull matters.” His son scolded him like he was Skui or Taka. His eyes looked at him with mild and friendly anger from under his dark red bangs.

The sultan just snorted and popped a purple grape in his mouth. “I’m just here for show; you’re here to keep the peace among your subjects.”

He snorted again when those eyes rolled at his words and asked where he was going when the prince leaped from the little silver throne, usually used by the queen of Shankala, but at the moment was the prince’s place of power.

“To be among my people in the market square. I heard that one of the venders are selling sweet cakes and I plan on getting about two dozen.” He grinned under the orange red cloth that was draped over his mouth. “Two for each of the royal children and the rest is for me.”

“Hey, don’t I, your father and king, get any?!” The old king yelled at the moving back of his son.

“Nope, doctors said no more sweets.” Armand waved a hand at him.

The king gave a childish pout, crossing his arms and sticking his tongue at his very rude son’s back. Maybe he could bribe one of the younger children to share a sweet cake with him?
<...part two end....>
A/n: you.review.now.please? Thanks all that have review so far and please keep doing so. My muse won't let me name the smexy sky pirate(main char) that shows up in the next chapter, so it will be a while as I try to bribe him. Anyone knows how to get a hold of slave-boys and candy underwear?